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Tsukihiko left at dawn for the village. However, only several hours later, Azami was pacing around the house, left and right!
“ How long has he been gone, that fool? Ugh, I can’t believe this! This is so foolish, what must he bring this time from the village!”
As Azami thought to herself, she wondered why Tsukihiko would go through the trouble of traveling into the village today. Their house was well stocked with plenty of firewood and food.
It was a warm summer day, and the weather was absolutely clear and beautiful. Azami stepped outside to try calming herself.
“ Ugh, it’s only been a few hours… we have everything here, what must he bring from there for us?!”
As she walked around, she went to the creek nearby, and crouched down to look at the fish in the stream. She pondered, as she waited for Tsukihiko, wondering what she could possibly do for him, in the meantime. As fish swam by, she realized, she could try cooking dinner! However, Azami was not very skilled at cooking compared to Tsukihiko, but was still improving.
“ Ah yes! These fish will be good for Tsukihiko. but how—uh, how had he caught them from the water?”
–*_*_*_*_*–*_*_*_*_*-
Tsukihiko had a reputation of looking different in the village, often treated worse than others. This, however, did not discourage Tsukihiko. He noticed Azami was being filled with worry lately, and wanted to bring something nice for her, and lift her spirits. As he walked around the village, he realized Azami has usually only eaten his cooking but he’d never made any sweets. He wonders if she’s had any.
“ Hmm, I wonder what sweets are being sold in the market. Anything good for Azami, possibly?”
As he walked down the market, he saw a young lady with deep black hair selling various kinds of mochi and wagashi. This is something he is sure Azami would try. He decided to buy a small portion of mochi for her to taste and enjoy.
“Ahhh yes! This mochi looks amazing, this will be great for Azami. I wonder what else I could bring her?”
The village market had a lot more in store than just Mochi. As Tsukihiko pondered and explored for gifts, he wondered why Azami would seem so different when he left, often worried for long periods of time. Lost in his thought, he stumbled into a craftsman in the market, nearly knocking over some of the tableware and vases.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going freak !” The craftsman exclaims, he looks at Tsukihiko with disgust for his appearance.
“ I’m really sorry!, Please forgive me, I was distracted! ”
“ Don’t break any of my stuff here, it took me weeks to make all of this! If you're interested, I’m willing to sell you some. Consider it a proper apology. ”
“ Oh uh, I— ”
The ceramic artist had crafted a beautiful selection of pieces, both as tableware and decorations. However, one vase in particular stood out to him. The vase was painted with a stream running through the woods, reminding Tsukihiko of home.
“That one! Are you selling that Vase? ” Tsukihiko said as he pointed to the grand vase in the center of the shop.
“Ah, I see your interested in one of my most prized pieces. Normally, I wouldn’t sell this to someone like you, but since this is an apology, I’ll make an exception. You’ll have to pay extra though, no refunds! ”
Although caught into a trap by the craftsman, Tsukihiko knew that vase might be something Azami would like. He remembered how everytime he returned home from the village, she would be by the window, watching the landscape.
“It’s a deal, sir!”
“ Its all yours, but I never want to see your face here again, and don’t you ever bump into me! ”
Tsukihiko decided that he had what he needed, he felt as the gifts that he had bought today were sure to reassure Azami in her time of stress. The sun was to set soon, so he began venturing back to Azami.
–*_*_*_*–
While Tsukihiko had taught Azami the basics of cooking, as well as heating and maintaining the home while he was gone, she had never learned to fish, nor what fish were safe to eat.
“ Arghh, how does he do it? That fool never taught me how to do this! These fish are not getting in my hands!?”
Azami was frustrated. For several hours she attempted catching various types of fish with her hands. Her clothes were beginning to get dirty. How can she, a god in this mortal world, loose to such a simple being.
“This is impossible! How dare these fish not obey me! Freeze, I say! Let me take you back! ” As she said this, she proceeded to slip and fall over.
“ Augh! How horrible, this can’t be! Tsukihiko could be here any second now and I have not prepared anything for him!”
“ Blub… ”
“ YOU THERE! I will catch you !”
“ Blub… ”
“ HOW DARE YOU LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT! ” Azami snapped at the fish. She clenched her fist' ready to attempt catching it again.
“ B l u b… ”
Azami leaped to try catching the fish, but the fish got away. Cold, wet and with the sun setting soon, she knew she had to come up with something for Tsukihiko. She was hoping that by doing more for him, he would be less inclined to go to the Villages. All that was felt was just shame, she couldn’t catch a simple fish.
“What do I do, what do I do!? I’m cold, I’m wet, and I’ve wasted my time here! Tsukihiko said he would return before dusk!”
Azami, defeated by the creek fish, decided to walk back, soaking, cold, and wet. Immediately upon return she went to warm herself up. As she walked into the Kitchen, she realized there was food there that she could work with. Azami decided she wanted to try making soup again with onigiri.
“ Ah thhh—iiss is good, I can—n make soup, but I wish he was here” Azami said, still wet, grabbing the vegetables and spices…
–*_*_*_*–
Tsukihiko ventured back from the village, with the gifts ready to be given to Azami. He noticed, on this calm summer walk, many flowers along the path. He recalled, Azami did like to “speak” to flowers when she got lonely, and realized he could keep them alive in the vase. He crouched down to a group of thistles, flowers Azami was named after, and especially enjoyed speaking to.
“Azami does like speaking to thistles, and there is more than one here. I wonder if you guys would like to speak to her?” Tsukihiko attempts to speak to the flowers, feeling awkward.
“...” The thistles were silent .
“We can take care of you guys, I’m just going to have to take you carefully from the ground” Tsukihiko felt a bit strange speaking to flowers in this way, but he knew Azami cared for them, so he wanted to treat them with the upmost respect.
Tsukihiko was not far from home. After carefully digging up the flowers and cleaning the dirt off them, he placed them into the vase. Besides looking at the beautiful landscape, Azami could now speak to the flowers. She previously stated that while Tsukihiko was gone, she would do so.
Tsukihiko looked into the distance and saw their house. Interestingly enough, Azami was not waiting outside the window this time, and smoke was coming from the kitchen.
“ Aha. Oh, dear. She must be trying to cook without me this time. ”
Tsukihiko quietly entered the house and placed the gifts away. He walked into the kitchen to find prepared onigiri, and Azami cooking soup.
“WAH—AH your back!?” Azami exclaimed in the kitchen, unaware of how much time had passed since she had started. She felt relieved to see Tsukihiko, but she knew her soup wasn’t ready.
"Ha, yeah, sorry, I was a bit late; I was just grabbing things! I placed them in our room for later.”
“Don’t eat the onigiri yet! I'm almost done with the soup!”
“Of course! I can’t wait to try it, but why are you all wet?” Tsukihiko looked at Azami; she was soaking and still cooking. Azami persisted with her finishing touches.
“Woah! Woah! Let’s open the window a bit; we need some air in here, dear.” Tsukihiko rushed to the other side of the kitchen to let the smoke escape.
“Whats wrong?! Are you alright? The soup is almost ready,” Azami said, concerned. Tsukihiko was beginning to look exhausted, and the smoke in the air was making him dazed and confused.
“It’s ok, dear. When cooking, make sure to leave a window open for air to flow. How about we step outside tonight, and eat dinner outside? Alright?” Tsukihiko knew the house needed some time to air out the smoke, and this would be the perfect opportunity for Azami to relax. Azami was reluctant; she had just spent hours fighting against the fish in the creek, only to step out again.
“Are you sure we can’t eat in here? Everything is ready for us.”
“Let’s step out for a little bit; There’s a bit of smoke in the house, and it’ll take time for it to air out. Here, let’s grab everything and sit by the water.” Tsukihiko said, while grabbing the gifts quietly, unbeknownst to Azami.
–*_*_*_*–
“This will be a good area to eat; this onigiri looks amazing. Thank you! I can’t wait to try the soup!”
Azami blushed. The sun begins to set in the distance, as fireflies started to glow in the bushes. Tsukihiko looks over to see the view that Azami always watches when he returns from the village.
"Ah, it’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, why are you looking off in the distance?”
"Well, um, I always noticed that you—you always looked towards this view when I returned from the village, and I wanted to give you something.”
“What do you mean?” Azami was unaware of what Tsukihiko was alluding to. For most of her life, she was treated as a monster, rejected from society, and never cared for.
“In the village, I saw a vase that looked like the woods around the house. I brought some thistles as well, since I know you like to speak to them. I noticed recently that you’ve been getting worried when I leave, and I was hoping this would remind you of the scenery you watch.” Tsukihiko quietly brought out the vase. He places it next to her for her to inspect.
“Fool! I don’t watch the scenery, I--” Azami took the vase and inspected it. When she looked, her eyes bypassed the intricate painting of the forest. She focused on a chip in the paint, exposing the white clay underneath. The chip reminded her of Tsukihiko in the distance, returning home.
Azami was taken back; she had never received such a gift before. She looks at the thistles, freshly picked from the ground, and she looks at Tsukihiko, both confused and upset.
“I look at you coming back home,” she says as she turns to Tsukihiko.
“Wha—what?” Tsukihiko said, confused, unaware that had been her reason this entire time. “Is that why you’re always by the window when I return, even at night?”
“I always look for you. I know the villagers don’t treat you well, Tsukihiko, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“...I-”
“I don’t… I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want you to run away from me,” Azami says, slowly tearing up.
“I would never leave you. Is everything alright, dear?”
“I get scared when you leave for the village. I don’t know if you will be hurt, or run away from me, or—” Tsukihiko reached over to hug her. Azami, still holding onto the vase, started to weep.
“Let’s talk about this. I know today has been hectic for you. I’m here for you, Azami." Tsukihiko and Azami laid in the grass together, with the beautiful night sky above them. Hundreds of thousands of stars above them to observe, and fireflies floating around.
“Whenever I see you walk away, it..it gets lonely, and I’m just wondering where you are. I know you have told me you will come back and everything will be ok, but I’m always concerned with the possibility of never seeing you again.” Azami looks over at Tsukihiko, waiting for his response, questioning if what she said would scare him off.
“Ah, dear,” Tsukihiko laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood, and held onto Azami’s hand.
“There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than home with you, dear. Nothing will ever change that.”
“I’m just concerned you will leave me, or— or worse!”
“I will never leave you, Azami. I love being there for you, and I know you are there for me as well.”
“You—” Azami blushed. “You really are a fool.”
They sat in the grass in silence, watching the moon rise from the horizon. Why, Azami thought to herself, why must he always leave the village? What does it mean when he says I am there for him?
“The moon is beautiful tonight, right, Azami?”
“It is…”
“Do you like the vase?"
“I do. It reminds me of you.” Azami looks away, embarrassed to speak.
“Would you like some mochi?"
“What is…mo-chi?”
“It’s a dessert from the village. I've never made it for you, but I brought some for you to try.” Tsukihiko reaches over and gets some mochi out. They both bite into their respective pieces at the some time.
“Mmmhm, this is... good.” Azami immediately found the mochi sweet and delicious. However, she was still emotionally conflicted.
Tsukihiko realized they could start a small farm outside their home. The fish from the stream and the vegetables in the garden would lessen the need for him to travel to the village. “We can try making a farm outside the house; then we would need fewer things from the village.”
“I would love that... Please teach me how to catch fish, as well.”
“Sure,” He laughs. “Is that why you’re all wet?”
“Yes…” Azami looking away from Tsukihiko ashamed at her defeat.
Tsukihiko stood up and stretched, relieved that he was able to alleviate some of her stress. As Azami begins to stand up, Tsukihiko reached out. Confused, she wondered why his hand was out for her to grab.
“Fool! What are you doing?” Azami looked down at his hand, guessing what he was trying to do.
“Come with me.” Tsukihiko took Azami’s hand.
Tsukihiko and Azami began to spin around the field. Tsukihiko knew she had never danced before, so he wanted to just spin with her.
"Argh, what are we doing?” Azami asked while twirling with Tsukihiko.
"Well, dancing, I guess. I wanted to try it with you to hopefully take away the tension!” As they continued to spin, Azami felt her anxiety slowly drift away. All she saw in that moment was Tsukihiko by their house. In the clearing in the forest they had both stumbled upon.
“This is fun!” Tsukihiko laughed. Spinning in the forest was making Azami excited.
They started to slow down. It felt like time was freezing. Tsukihiko twirled Azami around, he grabbed her, leaning in. In this moment, it felt like the world was just them. In the forest, by their house, next to the creek. It was just Tsukihiko and Azami. Tsukihiko holds Azami and kisses her.
“You fool…” Azami laughs.
“Let’s have the soup you made.” Tsukihiko and Azami sat down, both blushing after their dance. Azami passed Tsukihiko onigiri and a bowl of soup. Tsukihiko, no matter what, enjoyed Azami’s food. The soup had an odd texture, but was savory, with a hint of spice.
“Mmhm, this is great, Azami! Thank you.” As they drank their soup, Azami looked up to see something in the sky.
“What’s that?” Azami pointed towards the sky at a moving object—a comet trailing across the sky next to the moon.
“Ah, I wonder...” Tsukihiko said, holding onto Azami’s hand for the rest of the night.
